News & Articles

Discover the secrets to financial success as we delve into the nine key habits practiced by prosperous individuals. From continuous learning and strategic investment to smart spending and insurance protection, this article offers invaluable insights to empower you on your journey towards financial freedom.

Starting a family can be one of the most rewarding milestones a couple can experience. And one of the most stressful.

Planning for your first child might seem like a daunting and overwhelming task, but managing your finances need not be when you have a good idea of what to expect and how to budget around it.

My last article was written about teaching your ‘young’ kids about money and that was well received by our readers so I thought I would continue down the financial education path and focus on what we need to teach our ‘young adults’ about money.

I have always found having check lists helpful so hopefully this will help those young adults heading on their OE, graduating and leaving home and possibly also for the parents or grandparents who are helping coach these young New Zealanders from the side-lines.

It’s a nightmare trying to keep track of the different website logins; passwords that seem to be ever increasingly complicated; PIN numbers and security questions that you have no idea of the answers to; (no I don’t know the name of my favourite teacher!), it is not a surprise that many think technology is making things harder, not easier.  

I decided when my boys were young that I would teach them both about money and investing. I opened KiwiSaver accounts for them when they were only months old. They also have non-KiwiSaver investment accounts to help fund the cost of university. My wife and I add to the accounts when we can and so do the boy's Grandparents.

Paying for trauma cover might seem like an avoidable expense, but it can prove vital to safeguarding your financial standing should the worst happen, says Lifetime financial adviser Nathaniel Byers.

The lessons you teach them now can significantly impact your children once they leave home, writes Lifetime financial adviser Matt Wenborn.

The support of an expert financial adviser can make a real difference to your financial health. Lifetime’s Emily Wheatley advises on the four most important questions you should ask your adviser.

OPINION: It’s easy to confuse the holiday spirit with excessive spending.

OPINION:  As millennials, there’s often a gap between what we think will make us financially free versus what actually does. My story is testament to that.

By 23, I was working full-time running a business, studying full-time at university, and proudly took out a loan for my first home in a bid to grow my wealth and ultimately gain financial freedom. 

Setting clear money goals as a couple can pay real ‘dividends’ for both your bank account and relationship. Lifetime financial adviser Chané Berghorst explains what you need to consider when drawing up a shared plan. 

OPINION: For a woman, your forties can be the most defining and lucrative decade – especially when it comes to finances. Taking the right steps can improve your financial standing and set yourself up for the years ahead.

Humans are irrational by nature – we’re afraid of mice, we play the lottery, and we perceive things to be superior if they have a higher price. For years both economic and finance theory ignored this fact and instead assumed everyone acted rationally when making financial decisions. But recently there has been a new train of thought – human emotion can have an impact on financial markets as much as any other aspect of life.

The first seven months of 2017 have seen global markets continue to go up at a surprisingly consistent rate. However, most investors, particularly those in growth or high growth investments, will be aware that equity markets rarely experience such blissful performance without some form of volatility.

For most investors, lower interest rates have been a key feature of the past 10 years, thanks to the extraordinary policies adopted by the world’s central banks. This has particularly reduced income returns on fixed interest investments, raising the question of how best to deliver the “income” part of Farming portfolio returns in the years ahead.

Global share markets added another 1% in May, amidst a background of solid economic growth spiced up with news of political instability in Italy.

Research has shown, time and time again, that Kiwis are more likely to get their Wills set up after a life changing event. From getting married to having your first child or buying a house, these are the occasions that often prompt us to think about the future. Think these are the only reasons to get a Will? Find out why you might just want to consider protecting your future now.

OPINION: Have you ever stopped to consider just how much you will earn during your working life?  

If you have a few minutes it really is quite useful to do - even if you’re not a number cruncher. All you need is your current gross annual income and how long a period you plan to stay in the workforce.

Booster has always considered itself ‘responsible’ when looking after other people’s money! We also follow the six Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI) set in motion in 2005 by Kofi Annan of the UN. However, investors are increasingly looking for responsible investment to be clearer across the investment world.

Money often appears to be a taboo subject in relationships, it can be the catalyst for unhealthy discussions and frequently blamed for fractured partnerships. What if both parties could sit and make a Financial plan for their joint goals assisted with the help of a Financial Adviser?

Make it your year to get your finances in order and use your money goals to guide through the next twelve months. Lifetime financial adviser Allan McNaughton reveals the most beneficial resolutions to make.

The end of the year is the perfect time to take stock of your financial situation and plan for greater success in the year to come. Each year I set aside time to review my current financial portfolio and map out my next steps in becoming more financially fit. Whether you want to tackle your debt or start building a wealth portfolio, it’s never too late to start improving your financial bottom line.

As has been widely reported in the news, global share markets have fallen over the past few days, giving back 6% of recent gains. While this has been quicker than the usual decline, the size of the pullback is actually within the “normal” bounds of market behaviour, even when share markets are generally rising.

Looking at some recent research, I found a study that outlined that women in the EU receive 40% less in pension payments than men do. What alarmed me with this is that this is a much bigger gap than the often talked about gender pay gap, but it is the gender pay gap that is the main cause for the pension pay gap in Europe. 

In today’s busy and complicated world, there are not too many free lunches available but if you look carefully, you may be able to find one!

Well, 10 years on and KiwiSaver is still here! Not only is it here, but it is in a strong position. KiwiSaver now has over $40 billion funds under management with over 2.5 million investors. $40,000,000,000 looks and sounds impressive, right?